Take a day out of Glasgow and travel to the sleepy agricultural Ayrshire region. Explore Alloway, the Birthplace of Rabbie Burns, Scotland’s National poet and take in the open seascapes across the Firth of Clyde to Ailsa Craig.
Visit Culzean Castle estate, with its grand clifftop castle rising above the woods, beaches, secret follies and parks before having lunch at a decommissioned lighthouse next to Turnberry Castle.
Each private tour is conducted in our premium Mercedes minivans, ensuring your comfort as we venture along the narrow roads of Scotland.
Your knowledgable kilt-wearing private tour guide will tell you the stories and show you the sights on this tour. We offer flexibility and your time inside and outside the vehicle is up to you.
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Tour duration
1 day (9am – 5pm)
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We pick you up
We’ll collect & return you from your Glasgow hotel, Greenock cruise port or Glasgow Airport
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Receipt for your booking immediately
Inclusions:
- All-inclusive private tour
- Door to door service
- Dedicated private tour guide and driver
- All travel costs
- Luxury Mercedes tour van
Exclusions:
- Lunch (we can recommend a place)
- Entrance into attractions & sites
- Gratuities (optional)
KEY SIGHTS ON THIS TOUR…
Alloway & Rabbie Burns Museum
Situated in the village of Alloway just outside Ayr is the place that Robert Burns was born in 1759 into a simple farming life. His parents aspired to more and insisted Rabbie was well educated. He lived a full life with a love for poetry, woman and Scotland and his works lead to international acclaim and him becoming the national bird of Scotland. He is still as culturally significant today as he was in his time and Scotland celebrates Burns Night annually on the 25th of January with a traditional meal of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties!
Learn about Burns’ life and times at this fantastic Robert Burns museum and visit the cottage that his father built and where he was born.
Culzean Castle
Acclaimed Georgian architect Robert Adam’s cliff-top masterpiece sits on the Clyde coast a short distance south of Ayr. Completed in 1792 the palatial house was built for David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis who wanted a country retreat and playground for him and his guests. Adam didn’t disappoint and today we can visit this jewel in the crown of southwest Scotland.
We’ll visit the palatial mansion house and also explore its extensive grounds complete with follies, country park and walled garden.
Turnberry Castle
Built in the 13th century, Turnberry Castle occupies a rocky spit of land and can be accessed only by crossing the adjacent Golf course. A once impressive courtyard castle only the inner keep and sea gate remains and at low tide it is possible to walk out onto the rocks to see the walls.
Turnberry was a home of the Earls of Carrick. In 1271, Marjorie, Countess of Carrick married Robert de Bruce of Annandale. Their eldest son was to born here in 1274 and he went onto become King Robert The Bruce. After his coronation and exile in 1306, Bruce returned to Scotland a year later, landing at his former home Turnberry, by then occupied by the English. He didn’t succeed in taking it, but forced the garrison to abandon the castle. The castle does not feature again in official records, so we don’t know its subsequent history other than it had fallen into ruin by the 1700s.
Turnberry Lighthouse
Next door to the castle is Turnberry Lighthouse standing at 24 metres high. Commissioned by the Northern Lighthouse Board in 1877, The initial plan to erect the lighthouse on the Bristo Rock it serves to warn ships about. The plan was deemed too dangerous so instead Turnberry Point was chosen. The foundations of the lighthouse stand in the moat of Turnberry Castle.
The lighthouse entered service on 30 August 1878 flashing once every 12 seconds. As part of the lighthouse modernisation programme in 1986 Turnberry Lighthouse was automated. Today it serves as a ‘half way house’ for golfers on Turnberry’s iconic King Robert The Bruce course.
The Lighthouse offers fantastic views across the Firth of Clyde as it enters the Irish Sea. On a clear day we can see Ailsa Craig, a volcanic plug that dominates the horizon.
Coastal Drive
As we leave Turnberry we’ll travel north along the coastal road towards Gourock. We’ll see the islands of Arran, Milport and Bute as we travel up river. We’ll see the Cloch lighthouse that is the official end of the speed limit for Nuclear Submarines as they leave Faslane submarine base.
Lyle Hill
From Lyle Point in Gourock you get fantastic panoramic views across the Firth of Clyde towards Argyll. This region is closely connected to shipping and the River Clyde was critical in the building of ships for the British Empire and Allied efforts in both world wars. Today we can still see the legacy of that effort with ship yards and shipping including Greenock Cruise Terminal nearby.
In the distance is the wreck of ‘The Sugar Boat’ which serves as a reminder to the towns strong connection to Tate & Lyle Sugar refiners, founded by Abram Lyle to whom this lookout point is named.
We then drive the short distance back to Glasgow and return to your accommodation.
SUGGESTED TOUR ROUTE…
Each tour we operate is unique and designed to your requirements. Here is an example of this tour’s route
- Distance Instructions
- Distance 149 miles
- Time 4 h 37 min
- Speed 32 mph
- Min altitude 0 ft
- Peak 0 ft
- Climb 0 ft
- Descent 0 ft
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
These are some of the frequently asked questions about our Ayrshire & Rabbie Burns Country Explorer Private Tour from Glasgow, however if you have a specific question please contact us
ALL OF OUR TOURS COME COMPLETE WITH…
KILT WEARING TOUR GUIDE
We are passionate, professional and full of personality. Let us share our knowledge of Scotland
HOTEL / CRUISE BERTH PICK UP
We’ll collect & return you at the start and end of the tour
BOTTLED SCOTTISH WATER
`Chilled, premium still and sparkling Scottish water is provided
PREMIUM MERCEDES MINIVAN
Our minivans offer luxury interiors and excellent legroom for up to 7 guests and their bags
ONBOARD WIFI
Stay connected to friends and family on tour with unlimited super-fast wifi
RECENT CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
Heather C
Our tour was a wonderful and immersive experience with Hazel, who has a wealth of historical knowledge! Tremendously affable, she took us to several unexpected points of Outlander related interest, a delicious place for lunch and our private tour felt like spending the day with [...]
ML
If you're reading this review trying to decide if you want to book this tour, let me tell you that you absolutely should! You will not regret it and will have memories for a lifetime. I highly recommended his tour. Alexander thank you for an [...]
Martin L
We actually took the full day tour and I can't say enough good things about our tour experience and, more importantly, our guide Alexander (Sandy). He was top notch. He immediately made us feel at home. Alexander was down to earth, funny and SO knowledgeable. [...]
Alex M
We went on a tour with Hazel today. She was a rock star! We had the best day ever! She was so friendly, knowledgeable and kind! She was very attentive to our interests and we truly enjoyed her company. She’s the best tour guide ever!